Egypt’s top prosecutor killed in a blast

Cairo: Egypt’s top prosecutor was assassinated on Monday morning in a blast near his house in Cairo.

The blast targeted the convoy of the top prosecutor, General Hisham Barakat who died on the spot.

The blast also damaged several other cars in the eastern neighbourhood of Heliopolis. He was the senior most state official to be targeted since the toppling of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy two years ago.

The people behind the blast have not yet been identified. Security sources stated that a bomb in a parked car remotely detonated as the convoy of the prosecutor left home.

The blast clearly states the risk of the threats of militant Islamic groups who are targeting the Egyptian State leadership, according to reports.

State media confirmed the death of the 64 year-old General Hisham Barkat and said that he will receive a military funeral.

The Arabic magazine ‘Sawtul Hind’ published by the Indian embassy reaches a milestone next week as it publishes its 500th edition

The launch of the 500th commemorative issue of the magazine will be celebrated in Cairo

A photo exhibition will be featured as the celebration of Sawtul Hind’s 500th issue from July 17 to 20 at The Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation

New Delhi, July 12, 2017: The Indian Arabic magazine ‘Sawtul Hind’ published by the Indian embassy in Egypt for the past six decades is going to witness a milestone next week as it publishes it 500th edition depicting the strong bond and vibrant cultural exchanges between India and Egypt.

The launch of the 500th commemorative issue of the magazine will be celebrated by the Indian embassy at the Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation in Cairo on Monday, mentioned PTI report.

The first edition of ‘Sawtful Hind’ was published in 1952 and continues to be an interface between India and Egypt by collating information on the political, economical and cultural relationship between the two countries.

Sanjay Bhattacharya, India’s Ambassador to Egypt, wrote an editorial in the commemorative issue saying when a journal reaches its 500th edition, in a journey over six momentous decades, it becomes a “chronicle of history”.

“Sawtul-Hind came to light as our nations emerged out of the shackles of colonialism as independent countries. India and Egypt were actively engaged in promoting South-South cooperation, growth of Non-Aligned Movement and encouraging regional and multilateral cooperation,” added Bhattacharya in the latest edition that will be released during the celebration on Monday.

The magazine is committed to continue its efforts to “feature the rich diversity of India, a nation with the confidence of a rich heritage and the optimism of a dynamic future,” said the ambassador.

A photo exhibition will be featured as a part of the celebration of Sawtul Hind’s 500th issue, displaying Sawtul Hind’s journey over the past six decades, through various covers of the magazine. The exhibition will be open for the visitors from July 17 to 20 at the hall of the Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation.

The launch ceremony will witness the performance of an Oriental Music group from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Egyptian Minister of Culture Helmy El Namnam is going to be the Chief Guest of the event.

Being one of India’s most important trading partner in the African continent; having mutual political understanding based on cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues; India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilizations have shared a history of close relationship from ancient times.

Three streets in Cairo are named after Indian leaders namely, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Dr. Zakir Hussein.

Ancient DNA study of 90 Egyptian mummies revealed the hook-up history of the Egypt with the foreigners from the east

Verena Schuenemann was able to finally get the clean DNA samples by working on samples from teeth and bone

The revelation did not come as a surprise to the scientists as they found the genetic ties of the mummies to the Middle East and Greece

June 26, 2017: The mummies of the Egypt and THE Egyptian art always fascinated us. The way bodies are preserved in the Egyptian mummy caskets and the mummification process has always interested the scientists in particular.

When the ancient DNA of 90 Egyptian mummies was studied, it revealed the hook-up history of the Egyptians with the foreigners from the east.

The first DNA sample from the mummies was yielded in 1985 but the samples were highly contaminated and scientists could not find a way to get clean DNA samples, free of modern contamination.

Verena Schuenemann and her colleagues from the University of Tübingen in Germany were able to finally get the clean DNA samples from three mummies by using the latest technology on human genetic testing by working on the samples extracted from teeth and bones rather than using the soft tissue. The origin of the mummies was found to be from 1388 BC to 426 AD.

The revelation did not come as a surprise to the scientists as they found the genetic ties of the mummies to the Middle East and Greece since Egypt was a centre of trade and travel back in time.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain have listed individuals and institutions that have financed terrorist organisations and received support from Qatar

The list was drawn up in the light of the shared commitment of the four countries to the fight against terrorism and its funding sources

Qatar announced it is fighting terrorism while financing, supporting and harbouring various terrorist organisations

Riyadh, June 9, 2017: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain designated on Friday 59 individuals and 12 institutions that have financed terrorist organisations and received support from Qatar.

The step was taken days after several nations severed diplomatic ties with Qatar for allegations that it was supporting terrorist and extremist groups in the region, which Qatar called “unjustified” and “baseless”.

The list was drawn up in the light of the shared commitment of the four countries to the fight against terrorism and its funding sources, Al Arabiya cited a statement posted by the Bahrain News Agency.

The list was also a result of “the continued violation by the authorities in Doha of its signed commitments and agreements that included a pledge not to support or harbour elements or organisations that threatened the security of states”, it said.

The majority of those entities sanctioned were linked to Qatar and were a manifestation of a Qatari government policy of duplicity, the statement read.